The times., 1887-02-18

From copies of the South Bend
Daily Times, handed us by w. III
Bigelow, we condense the following
concerning the late w. C. Thayer:
The news of his death was sent TO
his former partner, Irving A. Sibley,
who notified the family. Mr.. Thayer
held life insurance policies aggregat-
ing $4,000. "Mr. Thayer was one
of natures noblemen, was an honest,
outspoken gentleman and thorough
business man. In the death of such
men the community in which they
live sustain a great loss" From the
issue of the Sth: "Few deaths have
carried more general surprise and
brought forth more general express
sions of regret in this community
than that of the late William G.
Thayer. The wife and three daugh-
ters of the deceased are almost wild
with grief" Feb. 9: The funeral
service took place Wednesday after,
noon and twas under the auspices of
the Knights Templar, the deceased
being member of that body. Rev.
w. f. Petit, of North Liberty, as
chaplain of the Commandery, had
charge of the services. The remains
were followed to the city cemetery
by large number of carriages"
"rhe cause of the deed was mel
ancholy, of which Mr.. Thayer had
always been a victim, and which
seems to have affected other members
of his family, as there have been
other suicides among his relatives, it
being asserted that his father died by
his own hand. In his family iela-
lations there was naught TO him but
the pleasurable experience CT man
who had loving wife and children.
His partnership relations with Mr..
Sibley had been all that could have
been asked and that he and Mr.. Sib-
ley dissolved partnership was due to
the fact that he thought he could do
better in the business alone at Owosso,
which he considered a frstclass town.
The truth of the matter is that the
late VIM. Thayer was one of those
men whose unhappy temperament
was the cause of all his misery and Of
his taking his own life. AS he ex.
pressed it in one Of his letters, he
was tired with the battle of life. Mr..
Irving A. Sibley, his late partner, is
almost the only man that the deceased
ever became intimately friendly
with"
From The Tribune of Monday, we
take the following: "Our community
was shocked this morning by tele.
gram from Owosso, Michigan, an
nouncing that Mr.. w. c. Thayer died
there at three o'clock this morning.
1t was only few days ago that he
was on our streets, seemingly in good
health, and those who attended
large party at his residence in the
Oliver row remarked upon his buoy.
ant spirits and rugged health. 1t was
also noticed that his devotion to his
wife and three young daughters was
remarkable. All the evening the
three girls scarcely lost sight of their
father or he Of them, and he was con.
graduated time and again upon his
charming family. Few dreamed that
its members would SO soon be called
10 mourn the death of one of the
most loving and affectionate of kus.
bands and fathers. The first news of
his death was telegram from Mr..
Thomas Nelan, Sir Knight at Owos-
SO, to Sir Knight Geo. A. Macomber,
of this city. Shortly afterwards Mr..
l. A. Sibley, Mr.. Thayer's old part
ner, received a dispatch, and Mrs.
Sibley and Mrs. LeVan broke the
sad news to Mrs. Thayer. The poor
woman was completely prostrated by
the blow, and kind friends have been
with her all day. The two older
daughters were at school, and o mes
senger was sent for them. When
they reached home they could hardly
realize that their father was dead, and
their grief was pitiable to see.
Mr.. Thayer was Generalissimo of
South BEND Commandery, knights
Templar. # = s. **
Mr.. Thayer was born on Charles.
town Heights, near Boston, Mass,
about AZ years ago. His father died
suddenly before that event, and he
was reared by his grandfather,
wealthy business man of Boston. His
mother died when he was but ID
years of age, and at I6 he entered
the army as drummer boy in
Massachusetts regiment, and served
throughout the rebellion, rising to
the position of All officer onD Gen.
Hooker's staff. Soon after the war
he went to Concord, Mass where he
was employed in a retail hardware
store, and where he married, about
20 years ago. BY the death OF his
grandfather he came into possession
of handsome sum of money which
he invested in the south, but which